Guard dog

It looks like much of the extended family and several friends are coming to visit this weekend and into next week. Most of them will stay at the Red Roof Inn. I'll have to keep an eye on the actiity to make sure Michael doesn't get too worn out.

Call me the guard dog.

This caregiver thing is rewarding but tiring. It's like when he was a baby -- if he was sleeping I could get work done. I want to be with him every moment he's awake. I want him to myself. We spent two hours watching Star Trek today. The rest of the day I was working at the kitchen table. I went out tonight and got walkie-talkies so I can work at the computer downstairs and he can still call me easily. I didn't have the right batteries, though. Duh

I can see him losing strength day by day. He can barely walk now, and any activity at all -- even a phone conversation - leaves him drained.

The hospice nurse came today. I'm glad they're involved. I don't feel like it's ll in my hands now.

We've had a ton of offers for help. People at church have offered to cook for us or come sit with him if we need to go out. But I don't want to go out. I want to be here, with Michael. The bosses are letting me work from home, which is wonderful. It lets me take a break to watch a Star Trek and then work a couple hours more while he naps. I filed a story at 1:30 a.m. after spending three hours last night talking and laughing wih Rob and Michael.

This is not a journey I want to take, but I need to be on it now. I tend to hover, but I don't think he minds -- or he lacks the energy to protest.